Week 5 showed there is always time for a breakout. Early-season reveals waivers have been picked over in deeper leagues. Managers should look for injury situations and deep roster reveals this week. This article will run through deep league waiver additions, focusing on Dynasty league formats. 

Players will fall into four primary categories: 

• Short-term Starters - Players capable of providing immediate production in deep leagues. 
• Proactive Pickups - Players who need the depth chart to be clear before them but are more available than other players in a similar role. 
• Deep Darts - Speculative players who have a chance at value.
• Dynasty Buys - Players whose values have changed, and the market may not have caught up. 

Quarterback

Short Term Starters

QB Jake Haener, New Orleans (5% Sleeper rostered)
QB Spencer Rattler, New Orleans (65% Sleeper rostered)

Derek Carr was the story of the NFL through the first two weeks. He is on a three-game losing streak and left Monday night's game with an oblique injury he described as “not good.” An MRI is pending. 

Haener got the first chance to replace Carr. The results were unfavorable, though he entered trailing, and the Chiefs could pin their ears back and blitz him. Expect him to get the start. 

Rattler is the player most fantasy fans would like to see. 

Carr's level of play in the first two weeks was strong enough that there should not be a danger of losing his job. Haener and Rattler should be rostered in deep Superflex formats; we have seen young quarterbacks drafted by the coaching staff run with opportunities in the past. 

QB Aidan O'Connell, Las Vegas (46% Sleeper rostered)

Antonio Pierce is starting to give the impression that he does not know what he will say before he starts talking. In his latest press conference, he declared the quarterback position at a “tryout” stage. 

It seems the Raiders already know the answer between O'Connell and Gardner Minshew II is neither. 

O'Connell looked passable at the end of 2023, playing turnover-free football with a 3-1 record over the last four games. He started 2024 by throwing an interception on his fourth attempt after replacing Minshew late. The lack of a dual threat to his game and the pending departure of Davante Adams gives him a low fantasy ceiling, but in some leagues, everyone who takes a snap is relevant. 

QB Joe Flacco, Indianapolis (56% Sleeper rostered)

The Colts lost, which is a massive caveat. But in over six quarters of football, Flacco has breathed life into a morbid passing attack, allowing players like Josh Downs and Michael Pittman Jr. to flourish. 

This is still Anthony Richardson's team. Flacco has shown enough that perhaps the Colts will want to be sure Richardson is 200% healthy before going back. 

Proactive Pickups

QB Jameis Winston, Cleveland (37% Sleeper rostered)

Winston replacing Deshaun Watson feels like a “when,” not “if.” Watson looked to have made positive steps in Week 4 and completed 75% of his passes, but the wheels fell off in Week 5. He's attempted between 170 and 176 passes in his three seasons in Cleveland. His touchdown rate has fallen, and his 74.8 quarterback rating is a career low. 

Most importantly, he's 1-4 after a 5-1 record in games he started in 2023. 

With Joe Flacco starting Week 5 in Indianapolis throwing for 359 yards with three touchdowns while Watson again struggled to hit 200 yards, the Browns are out of goodwill. 

A telling factor is that players around the organization gushing about Winston when they get the chance. Winston has an upbeat, infectious personality, and this organization needs it. 

QB Mason Rudolph, Tennessee (17% Sleeper rostered)

Coach Brian Callahan quelled potential quarterback questions, saying if Will Levis is available, he is playing. But now Callahan also knows what the team looks like with Rudolph. 

The franchise is not ready to give up on Levis completely. However, its heavy investment in veterans shows that it is serious about trying to win immediately. Levis has to take care of the ball and keep the offense on schedule; otherwise, the number of questions will only increase. 

QB Tyrod Taylor, NY Jets (17% Sleeper rostered)
QB Mitchell Trubisky, Buffalo (10% Sleeper rostered)

Taylor and Trubisky are lumped together as Aaron Rodgers and Josh Allen monitor injury situations. Conveniently, the Bills and Jets play each other on Monday night—Oy vey. 

Hypothetically, Allen had already cleared the concussion protocol because he had returned to the game. Hypothetically. The scrutiny over that decision will put the Bills under the microscope this week. 

Rodgers also returned to the game after suffering an ankle injury. Both teams feel pressure with back-to-back losses, and both quarterbacks will push to play. However, in leagues that do not allow same-day waiver moves, managers will need to be proactive in this situation.

Dynasty Buys

QB Daniel Jones, NY Giants (75% Sleeper rostered)

“I stopped reading after you said buy Daniel Jones.” 

I've made the low-hanging fruit joke for you. 

Jones was the fantasy QB9 in 2022, playing well enough to earn a significant contract extension. He started 2023 decent, posting a 31.7-point week in Week 2 before ineffective play and injuries combined to end his season. 

The Dynasty community responded by dropping him to QB35 on KeepTradeCut. There are 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL. 

Something funny happened on the way to getting kicked out of the NFL. The Giants added talent, specifically wide receiver Malik Nabers. Jones is suddenly better, placing as QB12 from Weeks 2 through 5 after a problematic Minnesota matchup in Week 1. The Giants are 2-3 and a fluke kicker injury away from being 3-2 and tied at the top of the NFC East. 

Dynasty has responded by moving Jones up to QB28. At least there are no longer three quarterbacks not playing football they would rather have. Jones is a 27-year-old to whom the franchise has a financial commitment. He now has players around him capable of supporting him and is playing some of the best football of his career. 

Chances are the person in your league who has him realizes he has not been awful. But given the market around him, it is worth inquiring.